‘We’re in this together’ says Kincaid

Distillery's Joe McDonnell in action with Ballyclare's Andrew Simpson during the recent Championship 1 match between Lisburn Distillery and Ballyclare Comrades at Ballyskeagh. Pic by William Cherry/Presseye

Published:14:30Friday 13 February 2015

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Lisburn Distillery boss Tommy Kincaid has called on Whites’ supporters to get behind the team, as they look to bounce back from their recent 6-2 defeat by Ballyclare Comrades.

The Whites will face Ballyclare once again tomorrow (Saturday), following their league meeting at New Grosvenor a fortnight ago, this time away at Dixon Park, in the fifth round of the Intermediate Cup.

With a place in the quarter final at stake, Kincaid knows his side must deliver a better performance than last time out, if his men want to continue in the competition.

However, Kincaid has urged fans to help to spur the Whites on, saying the players, management and fans are “in this together.”

“The last match went very badly,” he stated.

“In football you always get one of those days when one or two players are not on form, but that day everybody was poor; it was a recipe for disaster.

“That wasn’t the team I know,” he added.

The Whites have only had a friendly match in between their two fixtures with Ballyclare, winning 3-0 against Holywood FC on Tuesday night, but they will be anxious to bounce back when they are in Cup action tomorrow.

“I’ve told the players I expect a performance from them,” Kincaid said. “That’s what’s demanded by the club and the fans.

“They’ve been told in no uncertain terms and hopefully we will get a response.”

However, the Whites’ boss is calling on the fans to help see the players to victory.

“Against Ballyclare our supporters were very vocal. It doesn’t help to have supporters arguing with us.

“We have to push on and get the supporters behind us.

“We really appreciate their support, hopefully they will get behind us again.

“I was told a long time ago that everybody responds to encouragement, not too many people respond to criticism and yelling abuse; that has the opposite effect.

“I can appreciate how frustrated they are, the players didn’t do their job but the supporters weren’t doing their job either.

“The supporters’ job is to encourage the players over the 90 minutes.

“Ninety-nine percent of the supporters are brilliant, but some take it too far. The lads can hear it; it’s personal and it doesn’t help them.

“Everybody is meant to be in this together,” Kincaid added. “They are part time players, working during the day and training during the week.

“It’s easy to support a team that’s winning, but it’s how you treat the players when they are not playing well. I hope the fans can get stuck in and encourage the players,”

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s match, the boss said: “It’s a big incentive for ourselves to get through to the quarter finals and stay in the Cup, but it’s also a big incentive for Ballyclare.

“They have done well to get a draw against a Premier League side, in the Irish Cup, going out on penalties.

“Eddie Hill has has done a great job, it’s going to be a hard game. The players have got to turn up and fight for everything,” Kincaid commented.

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